4. Why the fuss about Pope John Paul II’s death?
The Issue / Event:
In April 2003, the United Nations Human Rights Commission deferred for a year an historic resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. In order to stall the debate, five countries, including Libya, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, had proposed "so-called" amendments to every single paragraph of the resolution. The amendments included the removal of all references to "sexual orientation" from the resolution’s title. Furthermore, the Vatican had lobbied predominantly Latin American countries to vote against the resolution (1).
In April 2005, the Requiem Mass for Pope John Paul II was watched by tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square in Rome, including about 200 world leaders (four kings, five queens, at least 70 presidents and prime ministers and more than 14 leaders of other religions (2)), and many millions more around the world. Among those attending the funeral were US President George W Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei also took part. Many of the world leaders interviewed subsequently expressed their great admiration for the man, the leader, the defender of justice and of the oppressed (3).
Positions that have been taken:
‘John Paul II was the first truly global Pope, and his constant missionary journeys around the world were reflections of his thoroughly modern, global perspective’. The Times Online (4)
‘He was an inspiration, a man of extraordinary faith, dignity and courage. … Throughout a hard and often difficult life, he stood for social justice and on the side of the oppressed, whether as a young man facing the Nazi occupation in Poland or later in challenging the communist regime. He never wavered, never flinched, in the struggle for what he thought was good and right.’ Prime Minister Tony Blair (5)
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said: ‘It's a great loss for the whole world. We will always remember him as a great man, an advocate of justice and man of peace. The government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened after hearing the news of his death.’ The Dalai Lama said: ‘Pope John Paul II was a man I held in high regard. His experience in Poland, then a communist country, and my own difficulties with communists gave us a common ground.’ (6)
‘John Paul II's resolute opposition to Africans protecting themselves against HIV infection … has put millions at risk on the continent. Nor will the genuine global grief about the passing away of a genuinely holy man erase the stain on the Vatican alongside the Irish and American hierarchies left by the sex abuse scandals’. The Observer (7)
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and other family planning organisations, have condemned the Vatican's attitude, saying it amounts to indifference to suffering (8).
"The role that the Roman Catholic church has played as an obstacle to AIDS education in Africa calls into question its moral right to a high status at the United Nations," said Bene Madunagu, Chairperson, Executive Board, Girls Power Initiative, Nigeria (9).
An entity that is in essence 100 square acres of office space and tourist attractions, with a citizenry that excludes women and children, should not have a place at the table where governments set policies affecting the very survival of women and children. Catholics for Free Choice (9).
Questions for consideration:
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Did John Paul II represent a bastion of certainty for people of different faiths in the face of moral relativism?
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Does the Vatican voice the opinions of other, less powerful, countries, which otherwise would not be heard?
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Should religious leaders intervene in political affairs?
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The separation of religion and politics is a modern, European ideology, but does not reflect the philosophies of may other world players.
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Should the Vatican have a seat in the United Nations?
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Is there such thing as a secular State?
References:
(1) http://www.thevillage.org.uk/displaystory.php?recordID=48
(2) http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/08/pope.funeral/
(3) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4422699.stm
(4) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,20709-1551001,00.html
(5) http://www.politics.co.uk/domestic-policy/blair-pays-tribute-pope-$13023104.htm
(6) http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/02/world.reax/
(7) http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1461936,00.html
(8) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/341833.stm
(9) http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/new/pressrelease/032499InternationalCampaign.htm
